Реферат: Moby Dick Essay Research Paper English 12

defeated him. The whale was a goal that no one could achieve, but

people still destroyed themselves trying.

One odd thing about the novel is that despite all the pain, death

and destruction Moby Dick has caused, I do not consider the whale to

be evil or monstrous. In fact, I was almost happy to see the whale

turn on his hunters and destroy them. I cannot fully appreciate all

the feeling about whales that the novel attempts to create.

When Moby Dick was written, whales were thought of as dumb brutes.

They were found in large enough numbers that people hunted them

endlessly, and never worried about killing them all. Whaling was an

admired profession. People needed whale oil for their lamps.

Spermaceti oil was used to make perfume and other cosmetics.

In today?s society, things are radically different. Whales are

thought to be just as intelligent–if not more intelligent–than

humans. Some scientists believe they have a complex language,

something not mentioned in the book at all. Whales are an endangered

species, almost hunted to extinction. In fact, many countries have

outlawed whaling. Most people consider whaling to be cruel and

inhumane. The Japanese are despised worldwide for continuing to hunt

them. Television programs portray them in a positive light. Whale

are mammals that nurse their young and breathe air, just like human

beings. They are not giant fish. Today?s children are taught to

respect whales, and are taken to aquariums to be educated about them.

After the invention of the electric light bulb, whale oil lamps were

no longer used. Modern cosmetic products contain no spermaceti oil.

Their manufacturers proudly make claims that no animals were harmed

while making the cosmetics.

The real ?dumb brutes? in the novel are not the whales, but the

whalers. They are uneducated about the true nature of their prey.